Total passenger traffic for Malaysia increases 6 times for first half of 2022

Malaysia operations recorded more than 6 times increase in 1H ’22 for total passenger movements when compared to the same period in 2021. From January to June 2022, Malaysia Airports registered a total of 20.25 million passengers through its network of airports nationwide. The active resumption of foreign carriers and international routes contributed to the encouraging performance.

For June 2022, Malaysia’s total passenger traffic movements stood at 4.54 million passengers, making up 63% of the Group’s total passenger movements of 7.21 million [including Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)]. Malaysia recorded 1.29 million international traffic passengers while domestic traffic was 3.24 million passengers.

Managing Director of Malaysia Airports Dato’ Iskandar Mizal Mahmood said, “International traffic in Malaysia is improving, and this can be seen from KL International Airport’s performance (KUL) last month. KUL’s total international traffic surpassed the 1 million passenger mark for the first time since the pandemic. It recorded 1.09 million international passengers which was a 21% increase from May.

“Other international airports in our local network have also recorded increased passenger volumes between 35% to 66% in June when compared to the preceding month. We are confident that this will improve further with the resumption of more airlines operating at our airports.”

In June, Malaysia Airports welcomed 4 foreign carriers that recommenced operations in Malaysia. They included Citilink (QG) and Lion Air (JT) flying the Medan-Kuala Namu (KNO) – Penang (PEN) route, and Air Busan (BX) and Jeju Air (7C) flying the Seoul-Incheon (INC) – Kota Kinabalu (BKI) route. The INC-BKI route is a new route for BX. Apart from the return of foreign carriers, the Group also witnessed the recommencement of pre-pandemic routes. Batik Air (OD) recommenced the Subang (SZB) – Batam (BTH) and KUL – Denpasar (DPS) routes. At the same time, Firefly (FY) reinstated its SZB – Seletar (XSP) operations. Meanwhile, Pakistan International Airlines (PK) introduced a new route connecting Lahore (LHE) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL).

The Group’s Turkish operations remain consistent as it recorded a total of 2.68 million passenger movements (Dom: 1.39 million, Int: 1.29 million), an increase of 3% from May 2022.